Osama bin Laden killed: the world reacts

World leaders and prominent Americans have reacted to news that Osama bin Laden has been killed in Pakistan.

Prime Minister David Cameron welcomes the news of Osama bin Laden's death but warns "it does not mark the end of the threat we face". Photo: REUTERS

8:00AM BST 02 May 2011

George W Bush

"This momentous achievement marks a victory for America, for people who seek peace around the world, and for all those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001," he added.

"The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done."

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg

"The killing of Osama bin Laden does not lessen the suffering that New Yorkers and Americans experienced at his hands, but it is a critically important victory for our nation - and a tribute to the millions of men and women in our armed forces and elsewhere who have fought so hard for our nation," he said in a statement.

"The death of Osama Bin Laden is a welcome milestone for the friends and families of those killed on 9/11, and for all who remain tenaciously engaged in protecting New York from another attack."

David Cameron

"The news that Osama Bin Laden is dead will bring great relief to people across the world. Osama Bin Laden was responsible for the worst terrorist atrocities the world has seen - for 9/11 and for so many attacks, which have cost thousands of lives, many of them British. It is a great success that he has been found and will no longer be able to pursue his campaign of global terror. This is a time to remember all those murdered by Osama Bin Laden, and all those who lost loved ones. It is also a time too to thank all those who work round the clock to keep us safe from terrorism. Their work will continue. I congratulate President Obama and those responsible for carrying out this operation."

Tony Blair

"My heartfelt gratitude to President Obama and to all of those who so brilliantly undertook and executed this operation.

"We should never forget 9/11 was also the worst ever terrorist attack against UK civilians, and our thoughts are with all those - American, British and from nations across the world - who lost their lives and with their loved ones who remain and who live with their loss.

"9/11 was an attack not just on the United States, but on all those who shared the best values of civilisation.

"The operation shows those who commit acts of terror against the innocent will be

brought to justice, however long it takes.

"So this is a huge achievement in the fight against terrorism but we know the fight against the terrorism and the ideology that Bin Laden represents continues and is as urgent as ever."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

"The state of Israel joins together in the joy of the American people after the liquidation of Bin Laden.

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulates US President Barack Obama for this victory for justice, liberty and the common values of democratic nations which fought side by side against terrorism."

EU president Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso.

"His death makes the world a safer place and shows that such crimes do not remain unpunished."

"Osama bin Laden was a criminal responsible for heinous terrorist attacks that cost the lives of thousands of innocent people," the statement added.

"The European Union continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with the United States, our international partners and our friends in the Muslim world in combating the scourge of global extremism and in building a world of peace, security and prosperity for all."

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key

"Osama bin Laden was responsible for the deaths of thousands of people, including New Zealanders, in several different parts of the world.

"While his removal will not necessarily bring an immediate end to terrorist activity, I have absolutely no doubt that the world is a safer place without Osama bin Laden.

"All those families that lost loved ones as a result of the terrorist actions masterminded by bin Laden, they may now feel that, in some sense, justice has been achieved."

Australian prime minister Julia Gillard

"Whilst al-Qaeda has been hurt today al-Qaeda is not finished. Our war against terrorism must continue.

"Every Australian was touched and affected by acts of terror by al-Qaeda, by the losses we saw in Bali, by the losses we saw in New York. Every Australian will be touched by this news today."

Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan president

"We call on Taliban to learn from what happened yesterday and stop fighting.

"Talib, come to your country and stop the fighting and leave the weapon that the foreigners have put on your shoulders."

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza

"We will not allow our soil to be used against any other country for terrorism and therefore I think it's a great victory, it's a success and I congratulate the success of this operation."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel

"Last night the forces of peace achieved a victory. But this does not mean that international terrorism has been defeated yet. We must all remain vigilant.

"The US military has achieved a decisive blow against Al-Qaeda with its commando action against Osama bin Laden and his killing.

"Osama bin Laden was responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent people. Terror was brought to many countries on his direct orders and in his name, against men, women and children, Christians and Muslims.

"Osama bin Laden claimed to be acting in the name of Islam, but in reality he made a mockery of the basic values of his and all other religions."

Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister, hailed the killing of bin Laden as a “great outcome in the fight against evil.”

"The world has been waiting for this news for 10 years. This is a great outcome in the fight against evil, in the fight against terrorism, a great outcome for the United States and for all democracies,” he said.

But the Vatican warned that no Christian should celebrate the death of the al Qaeda leader.

“A Christian should never rejoice” over the death of a human being, said Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, although bin Laden would have to answer to God for spreading hatred and ordering the killing of so many people.

“Osama bin Laden, as everyone knows, had the grave responsibility of having spread division and hate among people, causing the deaths of an innumerable number of people and exploiting religion for these purposes,” Father Lombardi said.

He said the Vatican hoped that the death of bin Laden “would not be an occasion for more hate, but for peace".